Here is the real problem. I have worked in Republican Party politics for almost 40 years and have been successful in many ways, helping to bring change to Texas politics. Of the thousands of people involved in the process I can count on one hand those I can trust with a secret.
People have a need to talk. A secret is no good unless others can be made aware of it so you can prove your worth. If people can just shut their mouths and not tell what they should not, it is amazing what can be accomplished.
Ditto that. I never worked in politics, (my ethics are too high ;)), but in the greedy, cutthroat corporate environment (Romper Room compared to Washington), I have seen many people get strangled in the office grape vine by shooting off their mouths.
Houston, you have hit the nail directly on the head.
I, too, have helped in party politics for years and years. In all my years of experience I've observed that the people who are too anxious to let you know "Who" they are and "What" they know will sooner or later be sorry they laid their cards on the table. It's a sad, but true, fact that information is Power. Some people feel they MUST share their information in order to demonstrate how powerful they are. But then in other situations, the Powerful Individual may have FACTS available to them, which they use in casual debate here at FR. When someone challenges their factual statement, in FReepmail, or otherwise, they reveal their identity in order to substantiate the facts.
Howlin, great thread. It's sort of strange to think that someone who has attained notoriety, would need the advice you're listed. But unfortunately, there are some who do. Thank you for putting it out there.
What about when people present information, and are then challenged by a freeper to prove their statement...we can't just go around saying stuff, without proof, can we?